User:Dereksmokin

DEREK “SMOKIN’” JONES To say that Derek (Smokin’) Jones is a DJ is like saying that a Rolls Royce is “just something to get around in”, or that a nine tier, double chocolate, strawberry glazed filling, lemon butter iced cake is just a piece of pastry. There are many layers to his personality as well as many facets of his talents. Derek is a thorough entertainer; A talk show host on XND radio.com, where he presents an array of distinguished personalities from the entertainment industry and also introduces the audiences to a rare mix of musical stylings that may not be available in many of the commercial media markets. He is a pillar of endurance in the increasingly popular house music genre. Derek is a visionary, whose limitations are as vast as the sky, and whose talent is only matched by his zeal, energy and fortitude. His contribution to the House Music movement has been enormous as a mixologist, a media personality, producer and a constant charismatic voice in the entertainment industry. Derek’s love of music began when he was nine years old. It is ironic that during his early years his orientation was influenced by shows like “Leave it to Beaver and “My Three Sons”. His exposure to music was limited to a mid-western anglo influence. Derek didn’t know that groups like the Isley Brothers, the O’Jays, the Whispers, or the Temptations even existed. He was a sheltered kid. His great-aunt, Hallie Cooper, had assumed the role of matriarch while Derek was a young boy, and was responsible for much of his structure and spiritual values during those impressionable years. He didn’t get out much- in fact-prior to age 15 or 16, Derek lacked the wherewithal to maneuver through the city of Chicago via its transit system by himself.

 Then, as if fate stepped in, something amazing happened.  At age 15 two of Derek’s best friends, Jeff Green and Michael Brown opened his mind up to a new and wonderful experience that he could never have imagined. They introduced him to R&B and Pop music, and from that moment on his life would never be the same.  Derek discovered that there were radio stations other than the “hum drum” WLS that he had grown accustomed to.  As he began to broaden his horizon  listening to stations like WBMX FM radio and got a taste of Hot Mix 5 and Farley Jackmaster Funk, there was no turning back.  Derek Jones had found his true calling. He was so captivated by the way the DJs would fade one song into the other, and make it sound like one long, continuous tune that he aspired to make this form of entertainment his life’s mission.  It had become his dream.

While in his mid teens, Derek began working at a meat packing plant. His sights were focused on acquiring the equipment necessary to make his dream come true. He saved his money until he had enough to purchase his first turntable …a belt-driven Technique (B100), and mixer. He continued to add to his capital by investing in another turntable and a single-deck Realistic Tape Recorder. His dad, Brady Jones, realizing his son’s commitment and dedication to his dream pitched in and presented Derek with his first 450 watt Realistic Receiver and Amplifier. Once he purchased his Gemini Equalizer, the once culturally naïve young man was ready to embark and make his mark on a cutting edge musical culture.

At age 16, in the basement of his great aunt’s home at 69th and Prairie on the south side of Chicago, a future star was rising from oblivion whose aura would shine brilliantly and impact the underground and house music movement tremendously.  His success, however, did not come without its challenges.  When Aunt Hallie first caught wind of his commotion down in her basement she thought he had lost his mind.  It took some persuading to finally bring her around, but eventually she became a reluctant supporter.  Derek would spend hours and hours working on his new-found craft, listening to Hotmix 5 and studying the different styles of the masters such as Frankie Knuckles, Steve Hurley and most of all, his idol, Farley Jackmaster Funk.  

During that time, it was customary for WBMX radio to allow guest DJs to perform, and Derek found himself constantly calling the station to vie for a coveted opportunity to display his talent. However, his efforts proved to be in vain. Now despair was beginning to set in. One day in 1987, a red Corvette pulled up in front of his home on 69th and Prairie, and from it emerged the larger-than-life Farley Jackmaster Funk himself. Derek’s life would never be the same from that point. As it turned out, Derek’s friend, Jeff had used his gift of gab to persuade Farley to pay him a visit. Elated, Derek did a somewhat impromptu audition for the Jackmaster, but unfortunately at the time he had considerably more enthusiasm than talent, and the young apprentice did not land a guest spot on WBMX as he had hoped. But every dark cloud has a silver lining; at least for young Derek, because that same enthusiasm commanded his idol’s attention long enough for Farley Jackmaster Funk to impart some priceless experience which would prove to be the missing element that Derek needed to take his craft to another level. He learned about matching BPMs (beats per minute) in order to fade from one record to the other. He learned how to mix records in order to make them tell a story. He learned how to “vibe” with the masses. While he was sixteen, Derek had his first exposure to the underground scene, and as serendipity would have it, his first performance before a live audience. It was at a well-known spot called Sawyer’s where the late legendary Ron Hardy was rolling the wax. As fate would dictate, Derek’s friend, Jeff and his gift for gab, somehow managed to get the two of them on stage where Hardy was working his magic. Within minutes after the introductions, Hardy had tossed his headphones to Derek and told him that he was going for a cigarette break. After what seemed an eternity of standing there like a deer caught in headlights, instinct began to take over, and a fresh face was about to be added to the world of underground music. The sixteen year old reached into Hardy’s stack of records and found “Bad Luck”, by Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, and the next thing he knew, he was rockin’ the house. Hardy finally returned after nearly an hour-long cigarette break. He stood and stared at the freshman DJ for a long moment; then simply muttered, “OK ya got your cherry broke”. Derek (Smokin’) Jones had been presented to the world.

Not long afterwards Derek got his first paying gig at a party. Possibly because of the high expectations that had been placed on him from the Sawyer’s performance, anxiety and fear got the better of him, and he wound up falling way short of those expectations for that gig. However, his determination and dedication prevailed as he continued to learn from his mistakes and perfected his craft. By age seventeen he was working at Hippo’s on Chicago’s north side. From there, Derek worked at numerous venues including the Warehouse, Music Box, and Playground. These ventures put him in contact with such well-known artists as Frankie Knuckles (the godfather of house music), Steve (silk) Hurley, Farley Jackmaster Funk and many others. By the time he had reached his early twenties, Derek had worked as a producer with Chicago Track Records and Rockin’ House Records. He spun vinyl at the Copper Box II, where he met one of his mentors, George Harris, who broadened his horizon by introducing him to “steppers” music and R&B. By the late 80’s the Copper Box II had closed along with many of the hot spots of the era, which sent many a DJ scrambling to find work elsewhere. Many found work in other states as well as overseas with new and/or established artists. Derek found himself working several jobs in the ensuing years ranging from being a bodyguard to working construction and finally, IT network administration. This was all far removed from the entertainment world, and Derek felt content to settle for the mediocrity that abides with the mundane 9 – 5 routine. He had in fact become a regular person; matriculating into mainstream society. His dream had seemingly run its course. Or had it? Remember, this is a man whose life has been dictated by serendipity. One evening in 2007, while Derek was beginning to settle into his regular routine as a regular person at the end of his regular day, he got a phone call. It was his friend and PR specialist. She was urging him to come out to his cousin’s Pro’s Sports Bar where they were having party. But Derek wasn’t feeling that. Why was she stirring up old dreams; old passions, long since surrendered to everyday grind of the “real world”? Derek Jones – average guy…that’s who he was… that’s who he would remain. Langston Hughes once wrote: What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore-- And then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over-- like a syrupy sweet? Maybe it just sags like a heavy load. Or does it explode? Derek’s dream of making his mark as a mixmaster had not been obliterated; only deferred, aggravated by the paradoxes so designed to keep him boxed into submission, but something inside of him kept clinging to the everlasting hope that God does not make mistakes, and that he was given a gift for a reason. The call from his friend was not a coincidence. It was fate! Derek agreed to go to the party, and when he set foot inside, it was as if he had stepped onto the red carpet at the Grammy Awards. Cameras were flashing. People were flocking around him. The night was like magic! Like—a dream! A sweet, magical dream. Many of his contemporaries like Farley Jackmaster Funk and Gene Hunt were there, elated to see their long lost friend and fellow artist. They encouraged him to continue pursuing his dream. And now Derek (Smokin) Jones is back. What happens to a dream deferred? This one is about to explode back onto the music scene with a passion for pleasing the crowd and a genuine love for people. The dream lives on… Visit him at: www.XNDRADIO.COM____________ Or (myspace, facebook etc. [fill it in]) Written by LC Satterfield

House music is a style of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, USA in the late 1970s and early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American,[1] Latino,[1] and gay[1][2][3] communities, first in Chicago, then in New York City and Detroit. It eventually reached Europe before becoming infused in mainstream pop & dance music worldwide. House music is strongly influenced by elements of soul- and funk-infused varieties of disco. House music generally mimics disco's percussion, especially the use of a prominent bass drum on every beat, but may feature a prominent synthesizer bassline, electronic drums, electronic effects, funk and pop samples, and reverb- or delay-enhanced vocals. But then the music reinvented itself, and then again and again until it gradually dawned on people that house wasn't just another phase of club culture, it was club culture, the continuing future of dance music. The reason? It's simple. People like to dance to house.